Adam's parents, Carmen and Dave Adams, attended every minute of the hearings.

“This was so foreign to us,” Carmen said. “From the time she was arrested until now, we didn't know what to do.”

Adams' daughter Drew Trombley cried when her mother was acquitted.

“I'm grateful for all the support our family has received,” Trombley said. “The truth prevails.”

Arrest

The trial was closely followed by the public and by those working in the courthouse: prosecutors, defense attorneys — and at least on judge.

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Melvin Arthur had stopped Adams, 52, last May on Tamiami Trail, just south of Hillview Street, because her tag light was out.

Three hours later, Arthur arrested her on a DUI charge. Adams' breath tested for alcohol at 0.036 percent — below the 0.08 level at which Florida drivers are considered intoxicated. Adams was also charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and escape. Adams says the handcuffs that Arthur placed on her wrists slipped off.

Adams has said she believes she was profiled by the trooper because she is a woman.

Arthur, 24, has a reputation among some defense lawyers for stopping more women than men.

According to information provided to the Herald-Tribune by the Florida Highway Patrol, which consisted of all traffic stops Arthur made in 2012, nearly two-thirds of the drivers he pulled over were women, as were 62 percent of those that Arthur arrested on DUI charges.

FHP's chief spokeswoman Capt. Nancy Rasmussen has said the state agency is not investigating Arthur's patrol practices. She did not return calls or emails seeking comment Friday, after the verdict was announced.

Prosecution

Chief Assistant State Attorney Craig Schaeffer said Friday he could not “speak to the different agencies' DUI arrest policies.”

“However, let's not lose sight that officers are trying to protect our streets from impaired drivers,” Schaeffer said. “They make the best decisions they can based on the available information at roadside in deciding whether to arrest or let someone continue to drive.”

Prosecutors dismissed the DUI charges against Adams last week. The resisting arrest charges were dropped on the eve of trial.

“We dismissed the DUI charge because we thought that was the correct result,” Schaeffer said. “As for the escape charge, we respect the jury's verdict.”

During testimony Thursday, Arthur said Adams slipped past him as he opened the rear door of his squad car to put a seatbelt on her. The trooper said Adams dropped his cuffs and took off running.

Adams said she got out to talk to the driver of a tow truck, who was hauling her car from the scene, and that the trooper overreacted, grabbed her in a bear hug, threw her to the ground and lay on top of her until backup arrived.

<p><em>SARASOTA</em> - Sally Adams was acquitted Friday of escape charges that could have meant 16 years in prison. </p><p>A Sarasota County jury of four women and two men deliberated for less than 45 minutes.</p><p>Adams, an artist and snowbird from Michigan, beamed and hugged her attorneys as the verdict was read.</p><p>Her family exclaimed: “Yes!”</p><p>“I'm elated,” Adams said. “Finally, justice has been done.”</p><p>She credited her defense attorneys Andrea Mogensen and Dana Moss for helping her “take a stand.”</p><p>“I'm so happy,” Adams said.</p><p>Mogensen said the charges should never have been filed.</p><p>“This is the problem with a pro-arrest policy for DUI,” the lawyer said. “The policy is not good for the police, for the public, for anyone.”</p><p>But Assistant State Attorney Shannon Hankin, who prosecuted Adams, said she does not regret her decision to go forward with the case.</p><p>“You can't (dismiss) close cases,” Hankin said. “That's what juries are for.” </p><p>Adam's parents, Carmen and Dave Adams, attended every minute of the hearings.</p><p>“This was so foreign to us,” Carmen said. “From the time she was arrested until now, we didn't know what to do.”</p><p>Adams' daughter Drew Trombley cried when her mother was acquitted.</p><p>“I'm grateful for all the support our family has received,” Trombley said. “The truth prevails.”</p><p><b>Arrest</b> </p><p>The trial was closely followed by the public and by those working in the courthouse: prosecutors, defense attorneys — and at least on judge. </p><p>Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Melvin Arthur had stopped Adams, 52, last May on Tamiami Trail, just south of Hillview Street, because her tag light was out.</p><p>Three hours later, Arthur arrested her on a DUI charge. Adams' breath tested for alcohol at 0.036 percent — below the 0.08 level at which Florida drivers are considered intoxicated. Adams was also charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and escape. Adams says the handcuffs that Arthur placed on her wrists slipped off.</p><p>Adams has said she believes she was profiled by the trooper because she is a woman.</p><p>Arthur, 24, has a reputation among some defense lawyers for stopping more women than men.</p><p>According to information provided to the Herald-Tribune by the Florida Highway Patrol, which consisted of all traffic stops Arthur made in 2012, nearly two-thirds of the drivers he pulled over were women, as were 62 percent of those that Arthur arrested on DUI charges.</p><p>FHP's chief spokeswoman Capt. Nancy Rasmussen has said the state agency is not investigating Arthur's patrol practices. She did not return calls or emails seeking comment Friday, after the verdict was announced.</p><p><b>Prosecution</b> </p><p>Chief Assistant State Attorney Craig Schaeffer said Friday he could not “speak to the different agencies' DUI arrest policies.”</p><p>“However, let's not lose sight that officers are trying to protect our streets from impaired drivers,” Schaeffer said. “They make the best decisions they can based on the available information at roadside in deciding whether to arrest or let someone continue to drive.”</p><p>Prosecutors dismissed the DUI charges against Adams last week. The resisting arrest charges were dropped on the eve of trial.</p><p>“We dismissed the DUI charge because we thought that was the correct result,” Schaeffer said. “As for the escape charge, we respect the jury's verdict.”</p><p>During testimony Thursday, Arthur said Adams slipped past him as he opened the rear door of his squad car to put a seatbelt on her. The trooper said Adams dropped his cuffs and took off running.</p><p>Adams said she got out to talk to the driver of a tow truck, who was hauling her car from the scene, and that the trooper overreacted, grabbed her in a bear hug, threw her to the ground and lay on top of her until backup arrived. </p><p>“I was terrified,” Adams told the jury.</p>